Poinsettia plant named ‘NPCW13211’

ABSTRACT

A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by having white colored bracts, medium earliness, a small, thin stem diameter, and small cyathia, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Variety denomination:

‘NPCW13211’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofpoinsettia, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘NPCW13211’. ‘NPCW13211’ was derived asa selection of a single, white plant among a population derived fromirradiated cuttings of the poinsettia CHRISTMAS FEELINGS™ ‘Marble’(unpatented), having white bracts with pink centers.

In November 2010, a single white plant was selected in Stuttgart,Germany from irradiated lines of poinsettia CHRISTMAS FEELINGS™‘Marble’. In February 2011, ‘NPCW13211’ was first asexually propagatedby vegetative cuttings. ‘NPCW13211’ was found to reproduce true to typein successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttingsin Stuttgart, Germany.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘NPCW13211’ were applied for in Europe onDec. 9, 2013 (Application No. 2013/3122, Grant No. 41461), however anapplication number has not been assigned. ‘NPCW13211’ has not been madepublicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. White colored bracts;    -   2. Medium earliness;    -   3. Small, thinner stem diameter; and    -   4. Small cyathia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new poinsettia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows an overall view of the plant.

The photograph is of a plant approximately four-months-old grown indoorsin Stuttgart, Germany in December 2010. The colors shown are as true ascan be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘NPCW13211’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on four-month-old plants grownindoors in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in the fall of2013. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Euphorbiaceae.        -   Species.—Euphorbia pulcherrima.        -   Common name.—Poinsettia.        -   Variety.—‘NPCW13211’.-   Parentage: Selection from the irradiated poinsettia CHRISTMAS    FEELINGS™ ‘Marble’.-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent.        -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 55 days.        -   Keeping quality.—Excellent.        -   Root habit.—Freely branching.        -   Root color.—White.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately two weeks.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Triangular.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—25.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Width.—20.0 cm to 30.0 cm.        -   Number of branches.—5 to 7.        -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—6.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—None observed.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Apical cutting.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—RHS 143A.        -   Length.—23.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity of lateral branches 5 to 7.            Length: 30.0 cm to 35.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.            Internode length: 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color:            RHS 143A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity.—6 to 9 per lateral branch.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Lobes.—Lobation characteristics: Shallow. Number of lobes on            leaf blade: 0 to 2.        -   Depth of deepest sinus of leaf blade.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 144D. Lower surface: RHS            139D.        -   Variegation.—Absent Color: Mature foliage: Upper surface:            RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS 139B. Immature foliage: Upper            surface: RHS 141A. Lower surface: RHS 139B.        -   Leaf petiole.—Length: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to            0.3 cm. Color: RHS 139C. Texture: Smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—4 to 5 weeks.        -   Diameter.—16.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Height.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Natural flowering season.—November and December.-   Bracts:    -   -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—6 to 7.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Slightly serrate.        -   Size.—Length: 7.0 cm to 12.0 cm. Width: 4.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 4D. Lower surface: RHS 139D.        -   Bract color.—Upper surface: RHS 4D. Lower surface: RHS 4D.        -   Bract petiole.—Length: 0.6 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to            0.3 cm. Color: RHS 139D. Texture: Smooth.-   Cyme:    -   -   Diameter: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Cyathia number.—5 to 6 per inflorescence.        -   Cyathium.—Shape: Ovate. Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Length:            0.2 cm to 0.5 cm. Color: RHS 143B. Deformation of glands of            cyathia: Absent. Time of opening of cyathia: Beginning of            December, first pollen in parallel to opening of nectary            cups.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 142B. Length: 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Nectar cups.—Number: 1 to 2 per cyathium. Diameter: 0.1 cm.            Length: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 2B.-   Reproductive organs: Not observed.-   Fruit and seed set: No fruit or seed set have been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘NPCW13211’ is a distinct variety of poinsettia having white bracts.‘NPCW13211’ is distinguished from its parent CHRISTMAS FEELINGS™‘Marble’ as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Female parent Variety CHRISTMASFEELINGS ™ Trait ‘NPCW13211’ ‘Marble’ Bract color White White with apink center

‘NPCW13211’ is most similar to the commercial poinsettia plant named‘Premium White’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the twovarieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait‘NPCW13211’ ‘Premium White’ Vigor Low to medium Low Earliness Mediumearly (1 week later) Early Stem diameter Smaller (thinner) Larger(thicker) Cyathia size Smaller Larger

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Poinsettiaplant named ‘NPCW13211’ as illustrated and described herein.